While the losses keep coming for Diggers Rest Bulla n the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup, the pieces are starting to come together for the club.
While the Burras again lost on the weekend, this time to Macedon, they were competitive in defeat, keeping the Cats to just 161 from the 40 overs. The Burras fell short in the chase making bowled out for 136 in 43 overs.
Captain-coach Darren Quarrell said his side has come leaps and bounds in the bowling side of the game, however, they still leave much to be desired in terms of their batting.
“The fielding side of it was very good, it’s been a huge improvement on what we were doing before Christmas, it’s a big change,” he said. “So we’re going well in that side of the game but our batting is a different story.
“The total was definitely chasable, there were a couple of batsmen there who should have made runs but didn’t. There were a couple there that I think threw their wicket away which I wasn’t happy about.
“But there were also a couple who stepped up, who showed a bit of guts to try and get the total, but it just wasn’t to be.”
Nathan Anderson and Lachlan Andrews led the way with the ball, taking 3-15 and 2-27 respectively.
“Nathan is a stump to stump bowler, he can torment the batsman and then bowl an inswinger and get an LB [W] or a bowled,” Quarrell said.
“He’s an awesome bowler to square them up and tie the runs down. Lachie had a bit of trouble, he kept on bowling it down the leg side, bowled a few wides, but once he got it on track he was very hard to hit away.”
With the bat the highlight was young recruit Tristan Krizanic who made 31 batting at four. With Sunbury Kangaroos to come on the weekend Quarrell said he is hoping some of his batsmen can get that first win they are desperately seeking for.
“Nathan [Crosland] batted really well during the one-dayer, so hopefully he can back that up… Tristan has been batting great this season,” he said.
“Alex Hassett’s a bit up and down at the moment but he’s just come off turf so he is trying to adjust to the hard wicket which is understandable.
“A couple of others need to work on mentally preparing themselves to get themselves in first and then start playing their shots instead of swinging across the line at the start.
“[Our goal for the rest of the season is] to win one.”
Other winners were Rupertswood, Sunbury United and Macedon. Gisborne and Romsey’s match was abandoned due to rain.